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Eriochloa sericea (Texas cupgrass)
Strickland, Sam C.

Eriochloa sericea

Eriochloa sericea (Scheele) Munro ex Vasey

Texas Cupgrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Paspalum sericeum

USDA Symbol: erse5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

17 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: The flowers (florets) of grasses are often minute and therefore inconspicuous.

Distribution

USA: KS , OK , TX
Native Habitat: Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Woodlands' edge, Opening

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Texas Cupgrass does not grow rhizomously, instead growing into bunches with tangled (but individual) roots attached to individual stalks. It prefers full sun.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Pocket prairie, Wildflower meadow
Use Wildlife: Cover, Seeds-Small mammals, Seeds-granivorous birds, Graze
Deer Resistant: High

Find Seed or Plants

Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-JHJ-1 Collected 2005-05-23 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Eriochloa sericea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Eriochloa sericea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Eriochloa sericea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-08-09
Research By: NPC

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